Burl Ives

Burl Ives was an American musician and actor known for popularizing traditional folk songs through his radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger.

Folk Singer

June 14, 1909

April 14, 1995

85

Burl Ives, an American musician and actor, was renowned for his deep bass voice and interpretations of traditional folk songs. He rose to fame with his radio show, “The Wayfaring Stranger,” which brought folk music to the forefront. Ives enjoyed a prosperous career in both music and film, starring in movies such as “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “The Big Country,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also a regular on “The Jimmy Dean Show” during the 1960s and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for his album “Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck and Other Children’s Favorites.” Despite being blacklisted during the McCarthy era, Ives persevered in his career and left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. Notably, he started his career as a wandering singer and guitarist before creating his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which helped popularize traditional folk songs.